Package



April 23, 1968 I CROSSLEY 3,379,360

PACKAGE Filed June 6, 1966 7 0M123, 5W PWMQAM,

United States Patent 3,379,360 PACKAGE Harold T. Crossley, Foxboro, Mass., assignor to Packaging Frontiers, Inc., Waltham, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 535,335 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-22) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tetrahedron-shaped package has a slit which extends completely across one of its four triangular sides, around the two adjacent triangular sides and partly into the fourth triangular side. Over this slit is removably sealed a closure tape. On peeling off the closure tape, the end portion of the package above the slit may be folded back to form a side opening extending entirely across the end of the package for removing the contents of the package.

This invention relates to packages, and more particularly to tetrahedron-shaped packages which can be easily opened for removing the contents of the package.

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of an improved tetrahedron-shaped package which is easily opened completely across one end of the package for removing the contents of the package; and the provision of such a package in which an end of the package may be folded open to a position along one side of the package where it will not interfere with removal of the contents of the package. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a tetrahedron-shaped package of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the back of the FIG. 1 package;

FIG. 3 is a view of the front of the package with the closure tape removed; and

FIG. 4 is an elevation showing the package with the top open.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a tetrahedron-shaped package of this invention comprises four triangular faces designated 1, 3, 5 and 7 of substantially the same size and shape. Side 1 may be referred to as the front side of the package and side 3 the back side of the package. The package is formed from a tube of flexible packaging material by forming end seals 9 and 11 at substantially right angles to one another. The package is conventionally formed from sheet material which is heat scalable on the inside and the end seals 9 and 11 are then formed by heat seals. The package has a heat-sealed longitudinal seam 13 as shown in FIG. 2.

The package has a slit generally designated 15 which extends completely across the front triangular side 1 and around the adjacent triangular sides 5 and 7 into the back triangular side 3 of the package. The ends of the slit are designated 15a and 15b in FIG. 2. Both ends of the slit are in the back sde 3 of the package and are spaced from each other. Slit 15 is located adjacent but spaced inward from end seal 9 and lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to the length of seal 9. The slit is cut in the material from which the ackage is formed while the material is in fiat condition prior to formation of the tube.

Because the package is made from flexible material and due to the location of both ends of the slit in side 3, this side of the package can be bent along a line extending between the ends of the slit, this line comprising a hinge 17 (FIG. 4). This permits the end portion of the package above slit 15 to be folded back over side 3 along hinge line 17 to form a wide opening 19 extending entirely across the end of the package for removing the contents of the package. End seal 9 may contact side 3 so that the end of the package does not interfere with removal of the contents of the package.

In order to close the package (for shipment and prior to use) a closure tape 21 is removably sealed to all four sides of the package and completely covers slit 15. Tape 21 can have a heat-sealable coating on its inside face and be heat-sealed to the outside of the package with a corner 21a being left free to serve as a tab for grasping the tape and peeling it away from the package.

The package may be filled with any suitable product (such as frozen citrus concentrate, for example) from the lower end seal 11 to the slit 15. The package is particularly suitable for products requiring a large opening when removing the product from the package.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A package formed from a tube of flexible packaging material having seals at each end in different planes so that the package has the shape of a tetrahedron, thereby having four triangular sides, said package having a slit extending completely across one of said triangular sides and around the two adjacent sides to the fourth triangular side, the ends of the slit being spaced from each other and the portion of the fourth side between the ends of the slit constituting a hinge whereby the portion of the pack age between the slit and one end seal can be folded back along the hinge to form a wide opening for removing the contents of the package, and a closure tape removably sealed to said package over said slit, said slit, at both its ends, extending partly into the fourth triangular side of the package.

2. A package formed from a tube of flexible packaging material having seals at each end in different planes so that the package has the shape of a tetrahedron, thereby having four triangular sides, said package having a slit extending completely across one of said triangular sides and around the two adjacent sides to the fourth triangular side, the ends of the slit being spaced from each other and the portion of the fourth side between the ends of the slit constituting a hinge whereby the portion of the package between the slit and one end seal can be folded back along the hinge to form a wide opening for removing the contents of the package, and a closure tape removably sealed to said package over said slit, said slit being located adjacent one end seal of said package substantially par- 3 4 allel to said one end seal, said slit, at both its ends, eX- FOREIGN PATENTS tending partly into the fourth triangular side of the pack- 401,215 11/1933 Gmat Britaim 678,219 1/ 1964 Canada.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,661,139 12/1953 Brooks 22944 5 JOSEPH LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Examiner. 

